Device for applying tension to a member



June 28 1966 J. M. EVANS 3,258,040

DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION TO A MEMBER Filed Nov. 15, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JACK M. E VANS ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 J. M. EVANS 3,253,040

DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION TO A MEMBER Filed Nov. 15, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JACK M. EVANS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 258,040 DEVICE FORAPPLYIB IG TENSION TO A MEMBER Jack M. Evans, Englewood, Colo., assignorto Band-It Company, Denver, 0010., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov.15, 1963, Ser. No. 324,062 2 Claims. (Cl. 140-1236) This inventionrelates generally to a device for applying tension to a member and moreparticularly to a compact device, simple in design and inexpensive tomanufacture, which can be conveniently and safely used by a singleperson and in conjunction with a variety of different types of buckles,and which can also be used to apply tension to a member in a directionsubstantially tangential to the point of contact between said member andan adjacent portion thereof in encompassing engagement about an item.Heretofore, conventional devices for applying tension to a member whichhad a high degree of flexibility in use not only were complex having alarge number of parts but also Were generally bulky and expensive.Small, compact and inexpensive devices were found to be disadvantageousdue to the limited applications of use, i.e., normally such devicescould only be used in conjunction with one type of buckle, therebyrequiring that a different tool be used for each different application.In addition, many devices had shearing means incorporated therein whichwere very difficult to operate and/or involved risk of personal injuryduring operation thereof. Also, risk of incurring personal injury fromthe backlash of a highly tensioned member that might be pulled apartduring the tensioning operation was ever present with the use of many ofthe prior art devices. However, the present invention overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art devices by combining the flexibility ofuse of the larger, more expensive devices with the compactness andsimplicity of the inexpensive devices. A device constructed inaccordance with the present invention may be conveniently carried in apersons pocket and yet easily and safely used by a single individual ina large number of applications and with a wide variety of buckles.Further, such a devicemay be used to apply tension to a member in adirection substantially tangential to the point between said member andan underlying portion thereof which is in encompassing engagement aboutan object.

These advantages are obtained through the use of a device havingpreferably a pair of channel-shaped members pivotally connected togetherat one end thereof and adapted to receive between the free ends andlaterally confine therein a strap or a member to which tension is to beapplied, each of said members having sidewalls, a portion of eachsidewall being formed convergent toward the free end of said member, oneof said members having a bottom wallwith opposed surfaces, a portion ofone of said surfaces being formed convergent toward the free end of saidmember, means for gripping a strap, said means being removably mountedfor rotary movement in said channel-shaped members, and means forrotating said gripping means. Base and safety during the shearing orcutting operation is obtained through the incorporation of a shearingsurface on at least one side wall of one channel-shaped member inconjunction with means to prevent complete closure of the pivotallyconnected channel-shaped members following the shearing operation.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention is toprovide a device for applying tension to a member which is compact insize, inexpensive to manufacture and which can be easily and safely usedby a single individual in a large number of applications.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for applyingtension toa member, said device having a sharply pointed nose incombination with a member ice having opposed surfaces, said surfacesbeing formed slightly convergent in a direction toward the end of saidsharply pointed nose.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for applyingtension to a strap orband which contains means for severing said strapor band in combination with means for supporting, after the severingoperation, the severed portion of said strap or band in the same generalplane as said strap or band was disposed during the severing operation.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will becomeapparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a persepective view of a device constructed in accordance withthe instant invention and shown at tached to a band that is encompassedabout a hose;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two pivotally connected, channel-shapedmembers comprising a portion of a device constructed in accordance withthe instant invention and shown engaging a portion of a strap or bandfor shearing or cutting thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with theinstant invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a device constructed in accordancewith the instant invention and shown attached to a band or strap;

FIG-5 is an elevational view in taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view in partial cross-section taken along line6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in FIG. 1 isshown a device 10 useful for applying tension to a band or strap 12,said device comprising a pair of channel-shaped members 14 and 16,pivotally connected together at one end 14a, 16a thereof partialcross-section by a pin 18, and an elongated handle 20 in one end oftending a considerable distance outwardly from one side of said handle,and the catch or pawl 22b mounted within said handle 20. The catch orpawl 22b may be disposed in either of two positions. A hexagonal surface26, see FIG. 5, is formed upon a part of the outwardly extending portion24a of the shaft 24 and adjacent to the handle 20. A pair of snap rings28 are mounted upon the shaft 24 to prevent translatory movement of theshaft 24 relative to the handle 20. A transverse slot 24b is formedthrough the extending portion 24a of the shaft 24 to provide an openingthrough which the band or member 12 may pass. The pair of channel-shapedmembers 14 and 16 are pivotally connected together at one end 14a, 16athereof and adapted. to receive between the other ends or free ends 14b,16b and laterally confine therebetween a band or member 12 to whichtension is to be applied. Each of the channel-shaped members has sidewalls 30, 32 having portions 30a, 32a, thereof formed convergent towardthe free end 14b, 16b of said channel-shaped members and which arejoined together by a bottom wall 34, 36. One channel-shaped member 16has a bottom wall 36 which is of greater width than bottom wall 34 andwhich also has an inner and outer surface 36a and 36b, respectively, seeFIG. 6, said inner surface 36a being formed substantially planar and aportion 36c of said outer surface 361) being formed convergent towardthe free end 16b of said member 16. Each of the channelshaped members 14and 16 has an opening 38, 40 formed in each side wall thereof, saidopenings being formed in aligned relation with each other and in oneposition of the pivotally connected members 14 and 16, said openings 38in one of said channel-shaped members 14 are in aligned relation withthe corresponding opening 40 of the other said channel-shaped member 16.A locking dog or lug 42 is mounted on the outer surface on one of theside walls by means of a screw 44 for locking engagement with thehexagonal surface 26 formed upon extending shaft portion 24a. In orderthat no interference occurs between the side wall which swings or movespast the side wall in which is mounted screw 44, a notch 50, see FIG. 2,is formed in the former side wall to enable complete unrestrictedclosure of the channel-shaped members 14 and 16.

Each bottom wall 34, 36 of each channel-shaped member 14, 16 preferablyhas a generally rectangular opening 46, 48 formed therein injuxtaposition to the portion of the side walls in which is formedopenings 38, 40. The purpose for these openings 46, 48 is to facilitatemounting or threading of the band or member 12 through the transverseslot 24b formed in the extending portion 24a of the shaft 24.

Means operable to sever a band or strap 12 is provided in the device 10through the formation of shearing or cutting surfaces 52 and 54 in eachof two adjacent side walls 30 and 32, respectively, of saidchannel-shaped members 14 and 16, near pin 18. Shearing surface 54 isformed in a portion 32b of one of the side walls 32 of channel-shapedmember 16, said portion 32b being laterally displaced inwardly a slightamount toward the other side wall 32 of member 16. Shearing surface 52is formed in a portion 30b of one of the side walls 30 of the otherchannel-shaped member 14 and is laterally displaced outwardly a slightamount from the other side wall 30 of member 14. Such offsetting of theportions 30b and 32b results in the adjacent edges of the respectiveshearing surfaces 52 and 54 being forced very close to each otherthereby ensuring severing of the band or strap 12 with the minimumamount of force since the strap cannot undergo any bending prior toshearing as would be the case if there were any appreciable amount ofclearance between said adjacent shearing or cutting surfaces 52 and 54.

Preferably, the device also has incorporated therein means to preventcomplete closure of the channel-shaped members 14 and 16 during theshearing operation. One embodiment of such means is shown in FIGS. 3 and4 comprising a rivet pin 56 mounted to project upwardly from the innersurface 36a of the bottom wall 36. The end 56a of said rivet pin 56supports the severed portion of the band or strap 12 and this support inconjunction with the support derived as a result of one end of saidsevered band portion resting upon an edge of the side wall which doesnot have formed therein any shearing or cutting surface. Preferably, thesevered band portion is disposed or maintained in substantially the sameposition after the shearing operation as it was during the shearingoperation.

Heretofore, most of the prior art devices were limited as to the amountof tension that could be applied to a member with such devices sincetheapplication of anything but a modest amount of tension resulted inthe end of the device being quickly drawn u against the adjacent surfaceof the buckle 58 thereby forcing the outer surface of the band or strap12 against the adjacent surface of the buckle with sufiieient force asto prevent further application of tension without severing or pullingthe band apart at its point of contact with the buckle. It has beendiscovered, however, that a device incorporating therein convergingsurfaces, such as surfaces 36a and 36c which are formed in the bottomwall 36 of channel-shaped member 16, enables the application ofconsiderably more tension to a member since the tendency of the deviceto wedge the strap or band 12 between the buckle 58 and the deviceitself has been greatly minimized. Further, the application of suchincreased amount of tension maybe accomplished with comparative easewith a handle of conventional length such as a 5 /2-inch handle as isused in one of the models constructed in accordance with the instantinvention. It has been found that the included angle between theextension of the two opposed convergent surfaces 36a and 366 should bedecreased where the diameter of any object which is to be banded isincreased. It has also found that optimum results for objects havingwidely varying diameters are obtained when the included angle is equalto or less than 9 and preferably between 7 and 7%.. Excellent resultshave been obtained where the included angle of approximately 7% i.e.,7%i%, was used.

The incorporation of a sharply pointed nose feature into a device to beused for applying tension to a member, said feature being obtained fromthe use of side walls which are formed convergent towards one end ofmembers 14 and 16, is desirable where the portion of the band 12adjacent the buckle 58 is to be bent in flush relation with the end 58aof said buckle 58. It is therefore preferred that this particularfeature be incorporated into all devices which are to be used forapplying tension to a member.

Operation of a device constructed in accordance with the instantinvention is as follows. A band or member 12 is encompassed about anitem or object to be banded and attached to a suitable buckle such asthat described in US. Letters Patent No. 2,746,107 to Mahn. A completedescription showing the manner and method of using this particularbuckle is'contained within the aforementioned patent to Mahn.

After the band has been encompassed about the item to be banded andattached to the buckle, the excess portion of the band is sheared or cutoff. Shearing is effected by opening the channel-shaped members 14 and16 until both shearing surfaces 52 and 54 are exposed. The band 12 isthen positioned between said members 14 and 16, as shown in FIG. 2, withthe shearing surfaces 52 and 54 being disposed transverse to thelongitudinal axis of said band 12. The free ends 14b and 16b of members14 and 16 are gripped between one or both hands and are urged towardeach other. Movement of the free ends 1411 and 16b towards each othercauses the band to be severed. Following the severing of the band, thefree ends 1412 and 1612 are prevented from further movement relative toeach other due to the severed band portion being supported by the rivetpin 56 and one edge of one of the side walls as has been previouslydescribed above. The arresting of further movement of the free ends 14band 16b towards each other is both desirable and beneficial since itprevents a part of the hand from being caught between the side walls ofmembers 14 and 16 when members 14 and 16 are brought toward and intocontact with each other. The loose end or free end of the band is nextinserted between the side walls. of one of the channel-shaped members14, 16. The channelshaped members 14 and 16 are then urged toward eachother until th openings 38, 40 formed in the side wall thereof are inaligned relation. The free end of the band confined and containedbetween said channel-shaped members 14 and 16 is then suitably disposedsuch that a portion thereof is positioned transversely of the alignedopenings 38 and 40. The rotatable shaft or mandrel 24 is then insertedwithin the aligned openings in such a manner that a portion of the freeend of band 12 passes through the slot 24b formed within the extendingportion 24a of the shaft 24. The pawl or catch 22]) is preferablypositioned to ensure that clockwise movement of a handle 1 20, as viewedin FIG. 1, will result in clockwise movement of the shaft 24.Counterclockwise movement of the handle 20 will not, however, result inany movement of shaft 24. The locking dog or lug 42 is rotatedcounterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, until it is in firm lockingengagement with the hexagonal surface 26. With this arrangement lockingdog 42 permits clockwise rotation, as viewed from FIG. 1, of thehexagonal surface 26 and the shaft 24 but does not permit anycounterclockwise rotation of said surface 26 and said shaft 24.Tensioning of the band 12 is effected through clockwise rotation of thehandle 20. Such tensioning may be easily accomplished by successivepumping or back and forth strokes of handle 20. When a sufficient amountof tension has been applied to the band 12, the handle is moved in acounterclockwise direction until same extends below the pair ofchannel-shaped members 14 and 16 essentialy as shown in FIG. 1. Next,the locking dog or lug 42 is moved out of engagement with the hexagonalsurface 26. The device is held entirely within the right hand, the palmof the right hand overlying the upper surface of the channel-shapedmembers and the fingers of the right hand curving around the handle 20.In this manner, it is quite an easy thing to maintain the amount oftension that has been applied to the band 12. For buckles of the typedescribed in the aforementioned patent to Mahn, the device is rotatedclockwise about the free ends 14b, 16b until a portion of the band 12 isin flushed relation with the edge 53a of the buckle 58. Otherwise, thedevice is held in this position until a suitable frictional force isapplied between the buckle 58 and the band 12. After the clamp and thband have been firmly secured to each other, the pawl or catch 22b ismoved to the opposite or a second position and the handle 20 as well asthe shaft 24 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the tailof the band has been loosened on the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is thenremoved from the aligned openings of the channel-shaped members 14 and16 and said members 14 and 16 are then opened and the tail of the band12 is removed therefrom. Any excess portion of the band is removedthrough use of the severing means incorporated within the device in thesame manner as has previously been described.

It will be readily appreciated that a device for applying tension to aband or member having novel means for permitting application of t nsionto a member in a direction substantially tangent to the point of contactbetween the member and an underlying portion thereof, which provides asimple, effective severing means, and which is extremely flexible foruse under widely varying circumstances but is simple in design, compactin size and inexpensive to manufacture, has been described. As a result,one single, inexpensive device may now be used in lieu of a variety ofdevices as has previously been the case.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exactembodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various other forms of modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a device comprising asingle channel-shaped member rather than a pair of channel-shapedmembers may be effectively used to apply tension to a member. Further,an appropriately shaped member may be mounted upon the pin 18 to providea support for the severed portion of the band 12 in lieu of using thrivet pin 56.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for developing relatively large tensile stresses within astrap member disposed in encompassing engagement about one or morearticles and maintained in such engagement by attachment to a bucklemeans, said device comprising a pair of channel-shaped members pivotallyconnected together at one end theerof and adapted to receive between thefree ends and laterally confine a strap therebetween, each of of saidmembers having side walls joined by a bottom wall having inner and outerfaces, a portion of each side wall being formed convergent toward thefree end of each said member, means for gripping and applying tension toa strap, said means being removably and rotatably mounted within theside walls of said channel-shaped members, and means for maintainingduring the tensioning operation a portion of said strap substantiallytangential to an adjacent portion of the strap disposed in encompassingrelation about an item thereby permitting a relatively large tensileload to be applied to the strap without severing same, said last recitedmeans including a seating groove in the outer face of one of saidchannel-shaped members, said seating groove having its bottom formedconvergent toward the free end of said bottom wall of said one of saidchannel-shaped members, the extension of said groove bottom and saidinner face of said one channel-shaped member intersecting to form anincluded angle of approximately nine degrees or less.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said included angle is 7% ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,114 7/1940 Campbell8l-9.3 2,494,963 1/1950 Ray -l23.5 3,154,114- 10/1964 Bailey 140123.6

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examm'er.

L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING RELATIVELY LARGE TENSILE STRESSES WITHIN ASTRAP MEMBER DISPOSED IN ENCOMPASSING ENGAGEMENT ABOUT ONE OR MOREARTICLES AND MAINTAINED IN SUCH ENGAGEMENT BY ATTACHMENT TO A BUCKLEMEANS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE BETWEEN THEFREE ENDS AND LATERALLY CONFINE A STRAP THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF OF SAIDMEMBERS HAVING SIDE WALLS JOINED BY A BOTTOM WALL HAVING INNER AND OUTERFACES, A PORTION OF EACH SIDE WALL BEING FORMED CONVERGENT TOWARD THEFREE END OF EACH SAID MEMBER, ME ANS FOR GRIPPING AND APPLYING TENSIONTO A STRAP, SAID MEANS BEING REMOVABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THESIDE WALLS OF SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAININGDURING THE TENSIONING OPERATION A PORTION OF SAID STRAP SUBSTANTIALLYTANGENTIAL TO AN ADJACENT PORTION OF THE STRAP DISPOSED IN ENCOMPASSINGRELATION ABOUT AN ITEM THEREBY PERMITTING A RELATIVELY LARGE TENSILELOAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE STRAP WITHOUT SEVERING SAME, SAID LAST RECITEDMEANS INCLUDING A SEATING GROOVE IN THE OUTER FACE OF ONE OF SAIDCHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS, SAID SEATING GROOVE HAVING ITS BOTTOM FORMEDCONVERGENT TOWARD THE FREE END OF SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID ONE OF SAIDCHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS, THE EXTENSION OF SAID GROOVE BOTTOM AND SAIDINNER FACE OF SAID ONE CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER INTERSECTING TO FORM ANINCLUDED ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY NINE DEGREES OR LESS.